Around 1 p.m. on 11/8, two Japanese children floating on an inflatable device near the shore of Gotenba beach in Mie Prefecture were suddenly swept out nearly 100 meters, and then carried 700 meters down the coast, according to HONTO, a Japanese media outlet for the Vietnamese community.

A group of 15 Vietnamese individuals gathered nearby heard the children's cries for help. Strong winds and a rapidly receding tide pulled the children further from shore, threatening to capsize their float.

Pham Quoc Dat, 27, and Tong Manh Tuan, 28, members of the Vietnamese group, attempted to swim to the children's rescue. Their initial attempt failed due to the distance and strong waves, forcing them to return to shore.

Dat and Tuan then ran along the beach, getting closer to the children's position. Despite Tuan experiencing a leg cramp, they used bicycle inner tubes as floats and swam out a second time.

Gotenba beach in Mie Prefecture, Japan. Photo: Tsukanko

Gotenba beach in Mie Prefecture, Japan. Photo: Tsukanko

Other Vietnamese individuals on the beach contacted the police and called for help from those nearby. The children's mother and grandmother, unable to swim, watched in distress from the shore.

After struggling against the strong winds and waves, Dat and Tuan successfully reached the children. Police and local rescue services arrived at the scene about 10 minutes later. The beach area where the incident occurred had no on-site lifeguards or rescue personnel.

Representatives from the Naka Fire Department in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, confirmed that Dat and Tuan were invited to their headquarters on 28/8 to receive an award for their bravery in saving the children.

Duc Trung (According to HONTO, Vietnam News Agency)